Should you seal the bottom of a vintage trailer?

[DaveWeinstein]

Pretty much the topic question. The wood flooring and structure of our trailer are just straight wood; no evidence that they have ever been sealed. Should I put some sort of a sealant on it (in which the questions are what, and how), or leave it as is, since it is garaged and therefore has a place to try out?

Thanks,
--Dave

[doug hodder]

I've got a '47 that will need to be sealed. It is solid planking, unlike yours that is more than likely ply or OSB. I plan to seal the cracks/gaps in the floor with 3m 5200 sealant, after I tend to the dry rotted ends on a couple of them. I also have a fair amount of dirt that has accumulated underneath. I plan to lift it as high as I can get it on jack stands, pressure wash it to clean off the dirt, then let it dry well, a couple of weeks. To seal...either roll/brush on the Henry's roof coat material, which would be a real mess laying underneath, or the other option I'm thinking of...Line-X spray it.

Depending on the condition of the material, where it's spent it's life and where it is now, it is possible that you could get by with some good oil based paint. I had a '49 Kit that was just ply and was in great shape, but it had spent it's life in Co. Others opinions may vary. I would recommend a careful survey of the floor...get a screwdriver and do some poking to make sure you have no rot, especially near the wheel wells, front/rear, and at the door. FWIW. Doug

[TENNJIM]

+1 on the Henry's roof coating - it goes on fairly easy with a brush and doesn't take forever to dry.

Jim B / Utah

[DaveWeinstein]

Given that I have minimal equipment (levelling jacks, yes, jacks to get it high enough to work under it, no), what is involved and what will I need to buy. Or is this a "find a professional to do it" problem?

[working on it]

Given that I have minimal equipment (levelling jacks, yes, jacks to get it high enough to work under it, no), what is involved and what will I need to buy. Or is this a "find a professional to do it" problem?

I have a lot of experience using insufficient equipment; specifically working underneath a "car" (substitute "trailer" here), without a jack or jackstands available. I would roll one side up on the curb to gain a few inches of clearance underneath, or, when in the country, over a hole, rut, or bar-ditch. You'd be surprised how much more can be done in a few inches of extra room. However, if using a curb, make sure your feet don't stick out into the street, or that your car (trailer) rolls away>> use a rock or brick as a chock, and set the brakes. In the country, clear the hole/rut/bar-ditch of briars and reptiles (don't ask!), and beware of flash floods. Better yet, get the right equipment or get it done in a shop- much safer. And if you choose to use drippy sealants/coatings when laying underneath, be sure to use protective coverings over your eyes, skin, and especially hair (again, don't ask!). That's why I used automotive rattle-can undercoating on my trailer...I could reach under and spray from a safe distance.

[48Rob]

Given that I have minimal equipment (levelling jacks, yes, jacks to get it high enough to work under it, no), what is involved and what will I need to buy. Or is this a "find a professional to do it" problem?

If you aren't comfortable doing the job, it is almost always better to hire it out, as doing an "I'll do it as best I can" quality job may be fine for some projects, but when sealing wood against water is involved, if you don't get it 100% right, there isn't much point in doing it.

That said, it isn't that hard.
As with any painting or sealing job, prep is the key.
If there is road grime and dirt on the wood, and wood/metal areas, nothing is going to stick for long if the surface isn't clean.
Once all is properly prepped, spray or brush on the coating.
Pay special attention to corners, edges, and other places that water and dirt can get trapped.
Anyone can apply a coating to a wide flat panel and do a decent job, but it is the corners and hard to reach/clean areas that will collect the dirt (mud) and thus need the most prep.

Hiring a pro to apply the coating is good, most pro's are very skilled at what they do, but the big question is are they skilled at prepping the underside of an old trailer...

Rob

[DaveWeinstein]

With that in mind, does anyone know anyone in the Seattle area who does this sort of thing professionally?